Fractional CMO Readiness Checklist

Leadership and ownership

• One named person owns the marketing number, and it is not the founder by default.
• Marketing decisions are made against a written plan rather than reacted to week by week.
• Someone in the business can explain, in one sentence, what marketing is trying to achieve this quarter.

Positioning and audience

• You can describe your ideal customer by the characteristics that predict a win.
• Your website says something a competitor could not copy and paste onto their own homepage.
• Sales and marketing use the same language to describe what you sell and why it wins.

Pipeline and measurement

• You know which channel produced each of your last ten closed deals.
• There is an agreed definition of a qualified lead that both sales and marketing accept.
• Reporting shows pipeline contribution, not just traffic, impressions and followers.

Capacity and commitment

• There is in-house capacity, or budget for specialists, to execute an agreed plan.
• Leadership is prepared to hold a direction for two to three quarters before judging it.
• Marketing spend is treated as an investment with expected returns, not a discretionary cost line.

How to Score Your Fractional CMO Readiness

Ten or more ticked

You likely need execution capacity or a specialist, not senior leadership.

Five to nine ticked

The sweet spot. A discovery workshop and a costed 100-day plan will move the needle fastest.

Four or fewer ticked

Start with diagnosis. Positioning, ideal customer profile and pipeline visibility need work before campaign spend is justified.

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Fractional CMO Readiness Questions Answered

What is a fractional CMO readiness checklist?

A twelve-point self-assessment covering ownership of the marketing number, positioning, pipeline measurement and capacity to execute, which tells a founder whether the business is ready for part-time senior marketing leadership.

How do I know if I need a fractional CMO or a marketing manager?

If the problem is direction, accountability or positioning, you need leadership. If you already have a clear plan and simply need more hands, a marketing manager, specialist or agency is faster and cheaper.

Is the checklist free?

Yes. The full checklist is published on the page and the printable PDF is sent by email at no cost.